By Khalida Sarwari
Childhood obesity rates appear to be on the decline and Saratoga schools are helping to further curb those rates by participating in meal programs this year that provide nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to school children.
Saratoga elementary and middle schools are taking part in the School Breakfast Program and the National School Lunch Program in order to make healthy foods accessible to all children regardless of their family’s income level.
Both meal programs are federally assisted and operate in the same manner. School districts that participate in either the breakfast or lunch program receive cash subsidies from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for each meal they serve and, in return, they must serve meals that meet federal requirements, as well as offer free or reduced price meals to eligible children.
Families in Saratoga that qualify for the programs will be able to receive either a free or a reduced-cost meal for their children.
Saratoga schools are participating in the programs as part of the city’s Let’s Move campaign, for which it received a pair of medals from the National League of Cities earlier this year. First lady Michelle Obama started the national campaign to encourage local elected officials to adopt long-term, sustainable strategies to address childhood obesity and offer opportunities for healthy activities in their communities. Saratoga joined the initiative shortly after it was launched about three years ago.
The city was recognized for offering opportunities for physical activity and improving access to healthy, affordable food. One of those activities is the Saratoga Youth Commission’s Walk-One-Week, a program that encourages elementary school students to walk to school in groups.
Other local schools that are participating in the meal programs include Blue Hills Elementary in the Cupertino Union School District, Marshall Lane Elementary in the Campbell Union School District and Prospect High School in the Campbell Union High School District.
